- This topic has 1,240 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 10 years, 2 months ago by
.
Ongoing Complications (1000+)
-
“I had 7 gallstones and one of them happened to clog some connection between the gallbladder and the pancreas, being also diagnosed with pancreatitis. I got the gallbladder removed with all the gallstones (even the lost one). My pancreas went back to its normal state the day after the surgery. This happened in Nov 08. Not long ago I experienced what I could distinguish as the same sort of pain when I woke up and for some reason I thought it was connected with holding going to the bathroom to pee, but after that the pain kept bothering for another hour. Today it’s happening again: Abdominal pain, right on the area that the gallbladder should be and stabbing the same way it did when the GB was there.
For some reason I am pretty sure that is connected with a bad diet, stress and sleeping disorder. Anyone having the same issues with a healthy diet, no major worries and sleeping 8 hours straight a day?
Smoking and drinking highly contributes to have bad side effects to the gallbladder removal surgery.”I had my gallbladder removed on 3/8. I had only suffered one attack, but when I was admitted to the hospital over a year ago with pancreatitis, my doctor told me that I would have to have my galllbladder removed sooner or later. So, needless to say, after overcoming all of the pain and suffering in and out of the hospital, one gallbladder attack and boom, it needs to come out. I had the laproscopic procedure, but ended up with 6 incisions. I developed a red rash, and also a lump next to the main incision, which the doctor sliced open during a visit to the office and not expected, which ended up with an at home nurse visit due to having to pack the new incision. I now have an IR drain because of the abcess that has now been in for close to a month. I can barely eat anything and have lost more than enough weight. I am praying that this drain can be removed later this week. I understand all of stories of the pain from suffering from it so much. My main doctor actually had the nerve to yell at me to the point of bringing me to tears because I accidentally called in my pain scrip too early, but with being in and out of the dreaded er and put on so many pain meds, it was an honest mistake. On top of that, he also let me know that the er doctors don’t care, and also just give you pain meds to keep you quiet. I was told that my gallbladder was the worst that my surgeon had seen in his career, but if I could go back I would have looked at any other alternatives than having to endure the pain and complications that this so called simple surgery should not be causing. My prayers go out to all that have had to deal with any of this.
I had my GB out on September 9th. My incisions also looked great. I had the bandages on until I took a shower the next evening. I was told if I was just going to be at home and wearing loose clothing, that I didn’t have to re-bandage them, as the air would be good for them. I did have a suture come out of one of my incisions and returned to the doctor to have that cut out. I was told that the sutures would take weeks to dissolve. I was also told not to lift anything heavy for at least 6 weeks. Today marks 10 weeks since my surgery, and yes, I do still hurt on my right side. The doctor said it hurts more at night, because you breathe in air and it makes you feel bloated, therefore, hurting more. I do tend to hurt more at night, after eating all day. I am on low fat and high fiber, and still can’t eat the fatty, greasy foods. I had ice cream and suffered terribly. Each person is different, so I am not going to say this is how it will be for you. I don’t think you will rip anything, but you may hurt later. It may all depend on what you eat. You will find out what you can and can’t eat. I have been keeping a food diary, of everything I eat, and how much fiber I take in. Of course, most days I eat the same thing every day. I have heard that the pain will gradually go away, and I am still holding on to this hope. Take things slow, find out what you can and can’t eat, and don’t try anything out of the ordinary, because the pain is just not worth it! I have also discovered that I hurt so much more when I am on my period. I am assuming this is because of the water gain, bloating feeling, muscles contracting. I suffer terribly every month now, and I also hope this goes away with time. Good luck!
“Abdominal pain
I am in pa too. Had my gal bladder out by local doctor three years ago. Last year an attack sent me to er. I was told liver enzymes high possible liver disease. Went to upmc specialist. He said liver fine I had sphincter of oddi dysfunction. Had sphincteronemy. It’s been a year and got another attack. So specialist ballooned that muscle 7 days ago.
Been in pain ever since. If I eat, I feel crampy bloated and just sick. Specialist wants a ct. Hoping I don’t have a leak. But something is wrong.
Wonder if we have same doctors”“I had my lap chole 3 years ago and experience identical side effects that the above author states…
So far I just deal with the pain… Told my primary care physician that it continues on and instead of referring me to specialist, he ordered an xray of my rib to see if it is “”fractured””. One has to wonder why these complications that are so prevalent post op seem to go undiagnosed and without proper course of treatment. At this point, I think I will try to see a colo rectal surgeon suggested by another author.
It’s nice to know that these “”phantom pains”” are real even though physicians continue to ignore or discount.”
i came on here to see if how i was feeling was normal after my gall bladder removel which was 10 months ago and the letter i saw was yours with exactly the same symptons as i am feeling.After a meal i need the loo after a piece of chocolate or cake i need the loo but the worst at the moment is the tiredness and no energy thats why i came on because it was worrying me what was causing it so i thought i would just see if it could be anything to do with my gall bladder removal.i was pleased to see that it seems to a normal symptom after the removal.not sure wether ive got to change my eating habits .when i first came out of hospital thought it was great because i couldnt eat a lot before i was full. but now my appetite is back to normal with me just trying to eat a bit less chocolate and crisps. I can have a good day go for a swim and 15 mins in gym then the next day i just want to sleep all day i would just love to not feel so tired. I am 64 yrs of age. thank you for your information. from guest x
i had my gallbladder removed in november 2004 i also have problems digesting food. i have to stay on a stright diet no fatty foods and no spicy foods also..if you find any answers to this problem let me know..i have been sick every since i had my gallbladder removed..plus i was sick before.did your friend have gallstones?was that the reason she had hers removed or was she like myself my gallbladder quit working.just to let you know she is not the only one with this problem. i hope she gets to feeling better and myself too.
I had my gall bladder removed 43 years ago. I have suffered pain in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen since that surgery. I also had additional surgery on my large bowel years later because of diverticulitis. So now I also got to experience continuing pain in my lower left quadrant of my abdomen. The pain in the area of my former gall bladder gets so severe that I feel I might pass out. It comes and goes. I have seen some aggravation of this pain when I turn or bend a certain way, but I also get this pain if I eat fatty foods. Beats me. I’ve been told I have adhesions which no surgeon wants to touch. I actually feel there’s a growth or lump in that area. I’ve had cat scans and MRI’s that show nothing unusual in that area. I’ve had barium x-rays too and nothing shows up. I feel comforted by others on this blog. But this is driving me crazy. I feel somewhat immobilized especially since the worst attacks were while I was shopping at Target. Help!
“Well, I have almost hit the four month mark now since the surgery. I have actually had a few ‘good days’ since my last post, but more bad days then good, unfortunately.
I find if I eat something (without knowing what my reaction will be) and it doesn’t agree with me, it can put me down for 2-3 days and again I am totally worthless.
Back pain is still almost a daily thing here, loose stools are still there, and stomach pain is also around most of the time (like I am trying to digest acid). My Liver still has days it swells and is very irritating (even though all tests show there isn’t a problem, yea right?) Although the heart burn has subsided almost completely now. I am closely watching everything that I eat, and totally stay away from any ‘trigger’ foods that I know will start this painful recoarse all over again.
This has probably been the worst 5 months I have ever experienced in my entire life.
Thankfully, those few good days are keeping me hopefully that I will be able to get through this at some point and continue on with a semi-normal lifestyle.
I still continue to hear my doctors words that I will be ‘good as new’ within a few weeks after surgery! BS, if this is good, I don’t even want to know what bad is?
I feel so bad for those younger than I, and those raising small children while dealing with this. I can only imagine what you are going through.
Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband who realizes there are days when I will be totally worthless and accomplish absolutely nothing, as I deal with this pain and upset it causes. Hang in there, maybe in another couple of months, things will start improving for you. If they do, you will treasure those ‘good days’ and I just keep hoping for the day when the good days outnumber the bad ones.”
I completely understand what you are going through. I hope you’re still posting to this site – please let me know if you are still suffering the nausea. I had chronic nausea before my GB surgery for a month and a half or longer; test after test revealed nothing but a low functioning GB. Out of desperation I opted to have the surgery and now wish I’d tried to figure out some other way to rid myself of the nausea, which I totally understand is one of the most miserable feelings on the planet. I was on Zofran and Phenergan to help with the nausea but Zofran actually stopped working for me after awhile. I have lost 30 pounds in 4.5 months due to the nausea and difficulty eating. I still have no appetite but finally – 2.5 months post surgery – some foods are starting to look appealing to me. For some reason my nausea has subsided but I don’t trust my body anymore and know it could come roaring back at any time. My biggest problem at this very moment is chronic burning pain all across my abdomen (below stomach area and from left to right side and even my back). it feels like I’m on friggin’ fire! It’s worse when I am sitting, less severe when standing, which tells me there’s something going on in the intestines or areas near where the gallbladder once was. As so many have posted here my surgeon has all but stopped returning my calls I’m trying to rely on an otherwise very thorough GI doc who has proven he knows very little about post GB surgery issues! I have managed to get my surgeon to see me tomorrow – but I think I already know what he’s going to tell me to do – take meds that won’t work. I’m going to push hard for more tests – sonograms, even endoscopy and colonoscopy AGAIN – it will be the second ones in four months!! just to make sure I don’t have something worse brewing they’re hoping to ignore. QUESTION: I’m confused about your having another HIDA scan. What will that show once the gall bladder is out?
I had gallbladder malfunction and atresia starting at age 14 which was misdiagnosed for 10 years. Finally doctors found it and removed my gallbladder; immediately after surgery I began having malabsorption problems and am now being tested for Celiac.
“I have had my gallbladder removed December 2011 and enduring a year and a half of illness and multiple tests. Pathology reports came back as a chronic infection. It is now a year and two months later, I still have really bad diarrhea on a daily basis along pain in my lower right side and dizziness and faintfeeling and weakness and tirenedness. Nothing seems to help (medication, diet changes etc.) Plus I have this weird discomfort in the right side of my groin area
”I also had mine removed after developing Pancreatitis. I have GERD, among other stomach problems, and have nausea and occaisonal vomiting too. I take 40 mg. Previcid and alternate between Nexium and Zantac. No relief yet. I was told that I might have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I would also welcome any suggestions!
had looked up medical websites about after effects of gallbladder removal…so I knew about the dumping symptom; rapid trips to bathroom; gas…what I still don’t understand is the weakness and fatigue that gets so bad I feel I could pass out…IF I don’t take blue green algae and an all-food type iron pill. I’m definately going to try digestive enzymes. The surgeon never forwarned me about any after affects, except that I could die in surgery…that was, just, so nice of him…I’ve had three kids, so labor was pretty darned awful, but the gallbladder attack I experienced would’ve made me kill my husband had I not been writhing and throwing up on the way to ER. It is hell, period. So, feeling 100% better after surgery, except for expected surgical pain and recovery…was not ready for (dum dum dummmmm….deer in headlights – OMG – get to toilet now syndrome. I was frightened by the bile (orangey) colored, watery waterfall of WTF on occasion. It’s like anything else in life…we learn to live around it…I take pepto pink pills when I go out on occastion. Like I said, the only thing that worries me is the feeling I might pass out or die from weakness…when I don’t take algae and iron. I honestly don’t think nutrients are getting into my system. This site at first was eye-opening and then comforting and pretty hysterical. For those suffering…if it scares you – see your Doctor, but if your symptoms match all of ours, well, take comfort in that you’re not alone and an infected and enlarged gallbladder will bring death. Don’t wait. Gallbladder pain won’t go away until it’s out…it may come and go, but it will get worse…and it’s very dangerous (according to my surgeon – you know, the “you could die” DR.) – See more at: http://www.poopreport.com/Techniques/food_for_toilet.html?page=2#sthash.gcGWorFd.dpuf
“I had my gallbladder out 1 year ago. I walk 3.4-4 miles EVERY DAY and eat healthy,my husband and I eat VERY healthy. Good fats, lo carb, lean chicken and turkey, NO red meat. I don’t eat fast food, that would poison my body and still have gained 26 lbs. It’s a shame, that I am trying so hard to lose weight, joined Weight Watchers and nothing is working, so that fortunate poster above
should consider herself/himself lucky. Possibly they are under 38 years of age and 40 had not hit yet! Watch out then!”
The topic ‘Ongoing Complications (1000+)’ is closed to new replies.